Below
you will see five illustrations of a cross section of a tooth, the
outer gingival or gum tissue, the inner connective tissue which
supports the tooth and a depiction of a graduated probe being inserted
into the crevice or periodontal 'pocket.' The probe measures
the
pocket depth, giving the hygienist an idea of the severity of the
decayed area. The redder color of the gum tissue at the neck
of
the tooth indicates inflammation,
which increases
with the severity of the condition. Notice how connective
tissue
is being destroyed during the progression. Periodontal
disease is
a seperate issue from caries or 'tooth decay' and caused by the
infection of different pathogens, although lack of proper and thorough
oral hygiene will promote the disease process in either case - and one
can certainly
exist without
the other. For this reason, many may feel that, because they are not or
no longer developing cavities, their oral health is not at risk.
However, studies show that between 75% and 95% of all adults
are
suffering some stage of periodontal disease.

The purpose of this page is to give you a general guide to compare
with your personal condition. Keep in mind that,
naturally
speaking, we have 32 teeth, so your own inspection and monitoring
shouldn't be some sort of passive activity if you are interested in the
health of your mouth and body. It is, however, well worth the
effort and time on your part.

The photos below the illustrations provide a more general view of the
entire mouth as it is affected by gum disease.

The
x-rays above show the progression of the disease. Note how,
in
the space between the teeth, the supporting tissue gradually
disappears, looking from 1-5. By looking at only 1 and 5 you
have
a stark comparison of the loss of binding tissue.

Healthy
Teeth & Gums

Gingivitis

Early
Periodontitis

Moderate
Periodontitis

Advanced
Periodontitis

1.
In healthy gums, the gingival or gum tissue is a pink or
coral color.

The tissue is firm and resilient and there will be minimal, if any,
crevice or pocket depth.

2.
At the stage referred to as 'gingivitis' the gingival or gum
tissue will be inflamed at the neck of the tooth, as opposed to the
pinkish color indicated in #1. There will be some pocket
depth
and gingival bleeding on probing (BOP).

There will not be any deterioration of supporting tooth structure.

3.
Inflammation of periodontal ligaments and minor loss of
attachment or pocket development.

Greater than 50% loss of bone support and considerable tooth mobility.

The
Connection Between Gum Disease and Heart Disease

Several
theories exist to explain the link between periodontal (gum) disease(receded,
red, swollen, inflamed, or bleeding gums) and heart disease.

One
theory is that oral bacteria can affect the heart when they enter the
blood stream,attaching
to fatty plaques in the coronary arteries (heart blood vessels) and
contributingto
clot formation.

Coronary
artery disease is characterized by a thickening of the walls of the
coronary arteriesdue
to the buildup of fatty proteins. Blood clots can obstruct normal blood
flow, restricting theamount
of nutrients and oxygen required for the heart to function properly.
Another possibilityis
that the inflammation caused by periodontal disease increases plaque
build up, which maycontribute
to swelling of the arteries. Either may lead to heart attacks.

"Researchers
have found that people with periodontal (gum) disease are almost twice
as likely to suffer from coronary artery disease
as those without periodontal disease." More

Links
to articles referring to 'inflammation' within the OraMedia site

The relief of inflammation
and stimulation of repair processes may also be of benefit for
stomatitis associated with cancer therapy. ...www.mizar5.com/honeyoralhealth.html - 95k - Cached
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The toxic waste products raise havoc with the
calcium and phosphorus of the teeth and they cause inflammation
of the gums. Cavities appear in areas of ...www.mizar5.com/pdann7.htm - 12k - Cached
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In natural teeth, it's called periodontitis (Latin
for an inflammation
around the tooth). In implants, it's coming to be called
periimplantitis. ...www.mizar5.com/faq.htm - 24k - Cached
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That's inflammation
or infection of the appendix. You may also have "molaritis" or
"bicuspiditis", infection of the tooth. Dentists just refer to these ...www.mizar5.com/omedchn.htm - 31k - Cached
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...periodontal disease should be seen as a
signpost for exposure to inflammation, which in turn can go on to
damage brain tissue and lead to dementia. ...www.mizar5.com/medrisks.html - 14k - Cached
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Preventive
dentistry for the layman in simple terms - how to care for and whiten
the teeth and gums and information on preventing or reducing the damage
...www.mizar5.com/ - 26k - Cached
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